NSVI doctors offer an alternative to open surgical ligation called percutaneous varicocele embolization, sometimes called varicocele embolization for short. It is minimally invasive, highly effective and requires no general anesthesia, recovery or downtime.
Varicocele embolization is performed by an interventional radiologist who inserts a tiny catheter into an artery in the upper thigh or wrist and then uses x-ray imaging to guide it through the body’s blood vessels to the veins within the testicle. Tiny coils made of stainless steel are inserted into the vein to block the flow of blood, which causes the vein to shrink and eventually disappear. Blood is re-routed by the body through other healthy veins in the testicle.
The procedure is FDA approved and 90% successful—the same as with open surgery. The patient can resume sexual activity the day after embolization, but it may take 3-6 months for sperm count to improve.
Varicocele embolization is an effective and less invasive option to treat varicoceles, performed by the experienced doctors at North Star Vascular & Interventional. If you have been diagnosed with a varicocele, talk with your doctor and share this brochure with them. We are happy to help provide the information you need to make an informed decision.